Pampered Poisonous Royal Wife Chapter 137

Chapter 137: The Proprietor of Caiyue Pavilion Arrives 

Mu Yunyao had not expected such a strong reaction from him.

“In truth, they are all common ingredients. They only require some care in roasting and mixing, and in the end they cost little more than ordinary grain. As a matter of fact, many merchants who travel about in winter on business carry some ginger tea with them for the road. Has Steward Qin never heard of it?”

Steward Qin froze for a moment, then shook his head with a bitter smile.

“Miss must forgive me for making a laughingstock of myself. I left the palace in Yue Wang’s company, and naturally, while I was still in the imperial palace, I never came into contact with such things. Later, when we arrived in Yuexi (Western Guangdong), that place was poor in produce and sparsely populated. In winter, people often had to endure hunger and cold. Even Yue Wang himself had to be sparing with something as simple as a brazier of charcoal. There were a few towns nearby, to be sure, but rice and flour there were outrageously expensive. The little military pay the court issued each month could not buy so much as one liter of rice. And now, even the soldiers’ pay is being skimmed…”

As she listened to Steward Qin speak, Mu Yunyao grew more and more astonished.

She had only seen Yue Wang twice.

The first time had been when she tumbled from a carriage and landed at his feet. At the time, she had felt only that the man before her was cool as water from head to toe, his blade-like brows and eyes filled with icy severity. One glance at him had seemed enough to slice a person’s thoughts in two.

The second time had been when Jin Wang had sent her to Yue Wang’s residence. She had only caught one hurried glimpse of him in the room before she fainted.

Most of what she knew of Yue Wang had come from Jin Wang’s bitter complaints. By then, Yue Wang had already taken charge of the Imperial Guards defending the palace city, and his status had become imposing indeed. She had never imagined that in Yuexi (Western Guangdong), he had lived in such hardship. A prince of the blood, and the legitimate son of the Empress at that, yet forced to worry over livelihood—if such a thing were spoken aloud, many would likely take it for a joke.

Steward Qin let out a heavy sigh.

“Yue Wang was only twelve when he was sent to Yuexi (Western Guangdong). In the very year he arrived, he fell gravely ill and nearly did not survive. Later, Yue Wang strove with all his strength to improve matters, but conditions there were simply too poor. Even now, once winter arrives, people still die of hunger from time to time. We who have accompanied Yue Wang all these years are truly useless. We have not been able to help him much. It is fortunate that Miss has appeared. If this ginger tea can be sent to Yuexi (Western Guangdong), it truly would be of enormous help.”

No wonder Steward Qin had hurried to send silver to Yue Wang before. So he was truly short of money—and from the sound of it, that was hardly the only thing lacking there.

“In that case, I will make arrangements as soon as possible. I will have a first batch of ginger tea prepared and sent to Yue Wang.”

“Good, many thanks, Miss. If there is anything at all in which I may help, please do not hesitate to command me. I will return now to Jinxiu Garden and write to Yue Wang at once with this good news.”

“Very well.”

Steward Qin left with such haste that he even carried off the bowl of ginger tea with him.

Watching his retreating figure, Mu Yunyao could not help smiling.

She believed that conditions in Yuexi (Western Guangdong) were indeed harsh, but certainly not quite so desperate as Steward Qin had made them sound. After all, if there had truly been nothing to eat, how could Yue Wang ever have had the means to cultivate a power base of his own? Still, none of that mattered much to her. She only meant to use this ginger tea to make Yue Wang owe her a favor, so that when the day came for him to rise to great heights, she might borrow some of his power and make her own path smoother.

After thinking carefully for a while, Mu Yunyao summoned Liu Liang.

“Master.”

“Liu Liang, do you have anyone under your command who is skilled at business?”

Whether it was Liu Liang, Shopkeeper Qian, or Ding Yuelan, too many people in Jingling City knew their faces. If any of them were sent out to purchase grain in large quantities, it would attract far too much attention.

“Yes. Qi Ming. He is good at trade.”

“Good.”

Mu Yunyao nodded and handed him a sheet of paper.

“These are the things I need. Show this to Qi Ming and have him look into the prices. Let him calculate the total amount of silver required and report back to me.”

“Yes, Master.”

On the other side, Steward Qin returned to Jinxiu Garden carrying his bowl of ginger tea, unable to hide the delight in the corners of his eyes and brows. Yu Yi, who happened to see him, was instantly curious.

“Steward Qin, what is that you’re carrying? It smells rather good.”

Steward Qin immediately shifted aside to guard it.

“This is a treasure. Go tend to the guests. What need have you to ask about things you ought not ask? Ah, by the way—I seem to recall that we have quite a few jeweled hair ornaments and headpieces here, do we not?”

“Yes, we do. But those things were all left by that person. Yue Wang never gave explicit orders, but it would still be best not to use them lightly…”

“Choose one set that does not reveal any recognizable identity and send it to Miss Mu.”

Yu Yi was startled.

“Steward Qin, should this not first be discussed with Yue Wang?”

“If I tell you to send it, then send it. If Yue Wang asks, say it was by my instruction. It will not touch you, hmph.”

Having said that, Steward Qin carried his ginger tea away.

Once inside the study, he slowly drank the whole bowl. Feeling the warmth settle deep into his belly, along with the rare sense of fullness, he could not help but sigh aloud. Had they met Miss Mu earlier, Yue Wang would not have had to struggle quite so hard…

Still, all things had their proper fate. It was not too late even now. Yue Wang’s luck had finally arrived.

After finishing two letters, Steward Qin handed them over to Yu Yi.

“Deliver these into Yue Wang’s own hands personally. They are of the utmost importance.”

Yu Yi’s expression sharpened at once, and he nodded immediately.

“Yes.”

After giving Liu Liang his instructions, Mu Yunyao turned her attention peacefully back to the progress at Ni Yun Fang.

Now that several additional storefronts had been given to her by the Governor’s Wife, the scale of Ni Yun Fang had risen to a new level. She did not intend to rebuild the row of smaller shops below; a careful renovation would suffice for now, and they could temporarily be used as additional storefronts for Ni Yun Fang.

The latest issue of the Ni Yun Beauty Album had already been completed. After Mu Yunyao reviewed it carefully and found no problems, she sent out a copy to each of the prominent households, just as before.

Now, however, her status was no longer what it had once been. The moment the register went out, requests for custom garments began arriving one after another. It could be said that, with only a word from her, she would immediately have an income of nearly forty thousand taels of silver.

That suited her perfectly. She intended to “bribe” Yue Wang, and this silver would come in very handy.

The newly released Ni Yun Beauty Album was widely circulated throughout Jingling City.

Meanwhile, Tan Lin, the proprietor of Caiyue Pavilion, hurried to Jingling City in great haste. It was said that he had gone to the yamen several times, bearing lavish gifts and requesting an audience with Magistrate Zhao, only to be thrown out each time. Quite a few people rushed off to enjoy the spectacle.

Mu Yunyao was in the middle of directing a group of embroiderers as they adjusted the dimensions of a garment when Jin Lan hurried in with an invitation card in hand.

“Miss, Master Tan of Caiyue Pavilion has sent over a calling card. He wishes to meet you.”

Mu Yunyao took it, glanced at it once, and tossed it aside.

“Go and reply that only my mother and I reside in this house. Our movements are naturally constrained, and it would be most inconvenient to receive Master Tan here.”

“Yes, Miss.”

Jin Lan had barely gone out before she returned with another card.

“Miss, Master Tan’s people say that they would like to invite you to tea at Bu Xian Lou…”

Mu Yunyao took the card and opened it, only to find banknotes tucked inside. After counting them lightly, she found that there were a full twenty thousand taels.

“What a generous hand…”

Then she smiled faintly.

“Still, silver that comes to one’s door is not something to refuse. Go and tell them this: since a traveler from afar is a guest, I will receive Master Tan for tea at Bu Xian Lou tomorrow morning, at the third quarter of the hour of si.”

Jin Lan could not help but ask,

“Miss, do you mean to let Tan Bawang off?”

“I am only a merchant, not an official. What I say carries no authority. How the case is judged is a matter for Magistrate Zhao. If I meet Master Tan, it is naturally to discuss business.”

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